Purpose Statement
Canned Reports provide users with access to prebuilt reports in First Due. These reports allow agencies to quickly review, filter, and export commonly used data from multiple modules without needing to build a custom report.
Canned Reports help departments monitor operations, review records, support compliance, and share data for internal reporting needs.
Background Information
The Reports Module contains preconfigured reports for several areas of First Due. Available report categories may vary based on the agency’s purchased modules, system configuration, and user permissions.
Common Canned Report sections may include:
- Community Connect
- Inspections
- Incidents
- Preplans
- Scheduling
- Assets
- Hydrants
- Activities
- Payroll/Points
Each report section is designed to display data from its related module. While the available filters, columns, and report types may differ by section, most Canned Reports follow the same general workflow: select a report, apply filters, review results, and export data when available.
Required Permissions
Users must have access to the Reports Module in First Due to view Canned Reports.
Additional permissions may be required depending on the report category being accessed. For example, a user may need permissions related to Incidents, Inspections, Scheduling, Assets, Hydrants, Activities, or other related modules to view report data from those areas.
Because permissions can vary by agency configuration, confirm the user’s role includes the appropriate reporting and module-level access before troubleshooting missing reports or unavailable data.
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Step-by-Step Guide
Navigate to the Reports Module
From the main menu, select Reports.
Review the Available Report Sections
The Reports Module displays available Canned Report sections based on the agency’s configuration and the user’s permissions.
Common sections may include Community Connect, Inspections, Incidents, Preplans, Scheduling, Assets, Hydrants, Activities, and Payroll/Points.
Select a Report Section
Choose the section that matches the type of data you need to review.
Example: Select Incidents to access incident-related reports, or select Inspections to access inspection-related reports.
Choose a Report Type
In most sections, select the appropriate Report Type.
Report types vary by module and determine what data is displayed in the report.
Review Available Filters
Available filters appear below the selected report type.
Filters may vary depending on the report selected. Common filters may include date ranges, statuses, personnel, occupancies, apparatus, shifts, or other module-specific fields.
Use Advanced Search When Available
Some reports include an Advanced Search option.
Select Advanced Search to display additional filtering options for narrowing the report results.
Apply or Reset Filters
Select Search to apply the selected filters and generate the report results.
Select Reset to clear the selected filters and return the report to its default search criteria.
Review the Report Results
Once the report loads, review the data displayed on the screen.
For reports with large data sets, use the row display option at the bottom of the report to adjust the number of visible rows.
Export the Report Data
When export is available, select the Download button to export the report data.
Reports typically export as a .CSV file, which can be opened in spreadsheet applications for additional review, formatting, or sharing.
Best Practices
- Use filters before exporting large reports to reduce unnecessary data.
- Confirm the report type before applying filters to ensure the correct data set is being reviewed.
- Use date ranges whenever possible to improve report performance and accuracy.
- Review visible results before downloading the report.
- Reset filters when starting a new search to avoid carrying over criteria from a previous report.
- Confirm the user has access to the related module if a report section or data set is missing.
- Avoid exporting reports with excessive date ranges unless the full data set is required.
Troubleshooting & FAQs
Why can’t I see a specific Canned Report section?
The report section may not be enabled for your agency, or your user role may not have permission to access that module or report data. Confirm your permissions with a system administrator.
Why are no results displaying after I select Search?
The selected filters may be too narrow, or there may be no records that match the selected criteria. Try expanding the date range, removing optional filters, or selecting Reset and searching again.
Why do my available filters look different from another report?
Filters vary by report type and module. Each Canned Report is designed around a specific data set, so the available search criteria may be different.
Why is the Download button not available?
The report may not support export, or there may be no data available to download. Confirm that the report has results and that your permissions allow exporting data.
Why does the report take a long time to load?
Large data sets may take longer to display. Use narrower date ranges and additional filters to improve load times.
Can I customize a Canned Report?
Canned Reports are prebuilt reports. Some customization may be available through filters, report type selection, or exported CSV formatting. For more advanced custom reporting needs, use the appropriate reporting or analytics tools available to your agency.